ELECTIONS in Edo State yesterday was held in a peaceful atmosphere even though there were pockets of mild violence in some areas, which was quickly brought under control by combined security agencies.
Also, the House of Representatives polls into Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency was held under a peaceful atmosphere.
In Uneme Nkehua Ward Nine, voting was going on smoothly at the time The Guardian visited the area at about 3 pm.
But in Aiyegunle, Ward seven, the House of Representatives Majority Leader, Tunde Akogun alleged that the election was being skewed in favour of his major opponent, Peter Akpattason of the ACN.
He alleged that some traditional rulers in the area had engaged town criers to publicly announce their endorsement of the ACN candidate.
In Benin City, the state capital, voting went on smoothly without serious challenges.
Accreditation started in some areas in Igarra, Akoko-Edo local council as early as 8 am without any reported hitch.
There was no reported incident in the five councils visited in Edo North where Governor Adams Oshiomhole urged the people to vote and stay behind to defend them..
At Obe Primary School Fugar, where Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan, Mike Ogiadhome voted, the turnout in the area was lower than what was experienced in the presidential election.
He told journalists shortly after casting his vote around 1.34 pm that he was sure that the election would go the way of the previous ones which were relatively peaceful in the area.
But in Ebele, Igueben Local Council, there was a reported case of ballot papers, ballot boxes and voters’ registration stolen by suspected gunmen.
There were also reported cases of skirmishes in Uromi also in Edo Central where the ACN was accused of being instrumental to the violence and attempted rigging in the area.
But the state chairman of the party, Thomas Okosun denied the allegation saying that the party abhorred violence and rigging and could not have indulged in such acts.
Meanwhile, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has called on the INEC, to investigate reports of alleged electoral irregularities in some parts of Edo Central.
He stated this shortly after voting at Iyamho Primary School in Etsako West Council.
Oshiomhole who arrived the Ward 10, Unit polling centre at about 11:51am for accreditation cast his vote at about 12:32pm.
Speaking with journalists, the governor said intelligence report indicated that some political thugs invaded Amendokhian, Ward 7, in Esan North East Council, spearheaded by a serving member of the House of Representatives and another incident occurred at Ekpoma, Esan West Council where soldiers in the area intervened to stop suspected PDP thugs from causing mayhem to pave the way for rigging. He said that he had drawn the attention of the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Rose Obuoforibo to the two incidents.
He said: “I have received two reports now; one is from Hon Itulah’s polling booth, Ward 7, Amendokhian, Uromi, Esan North East. They used their thugs to drive away our people, they carried ballot box and they are thumb printing. I have called the INEC REC to inform her of this development and she has promised she is going to act very swiftly. In Ekpoma too, the PDP guys also tried to beat up someone, the army intervened and I’m told they have brought the situation there under control. So I imagine that in a couple of places, the PDP people who realised that we have educated our agents to watch out have resorted to driving away our agents and that way they can then have a field day.
“They have already in many cases paid corps members, presiding officers N10,000 so that they can turn the other eye while they want to thumb print, but whenever we have information, we are taking steps to inform the police, and INEC authorities and hoping that they will act on it. But otherwise in most cases, from what I’m hearing everything appears peaceful. But you know the real test of election is at the level of counting the vote and collation. I need to get full report on what is happening in Edo South . But in Edo Central, I think they are very determined to rig the election there, but our people are also very well on the alert to watch out.”
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| Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo State |
Also, the House of Representatives polls into Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency was held under a peaceful atmosphere.
In Uneme Nkehua Ward Nine, voting was going on smoothly at the time The Guardian visited the area at about 3 pm.
But in Aiyegunle, Ward seven, the House of Representatives Majority Leader, Tunde Akogun alleged that the election was being skewed in favour of his major opponent, Peter Akpattason of the ACN.
He alleged that some traditional rulers in the area had engaged town criers to publicly announce their endorsement of the ACN candidate.
In Benin City, the state capital, voting went on smoothly without serious challenges.
Accreditation started in some areas in Igarra, Akoko-Edo local council as early as 8 am without any reported hitch.
There was no reported incident in the five councils visited in Edo North where Governor Adams Oshiomhole urged the people to vote and stay behind to defend them..
At Obe Primary School Fugar, where Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan, Mike Ogiadhome voted, the turnout in the area was lower than what was experienced in the presidential election.
He told journalists shortly after casting his vote around 1.34 pm that he was sure that the election would go the way of the previous ones which were relatively peaceful in the area.
But in Ebele, Igueben Local Council, there was a reported case of ballot papers, ballot boxes and voters’ registration stolen by suspected gunmen.
There were also reported cases of skirmishes in Uromi also in Edo Central where the ACN was accused of being instrumental to the violence and attempted rigging in the area.
But the state chairman of the party, Thomas Okosun denied the allegation saying that the party abhorred violence and rigging and could not have indulged in such acts.
Meanwhile, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has called on the INEC, to investigate reports of alleged electoral irregularities in some parts of Edo Central.
He stated this shortly after voting at Iyamho Primary School in Etsako West Council.
Oshiomhole who arrived the Ward 10, Unit polling centre at about 11:51am for accreditation cast his vote at about 12:32pm.
Speaking with journalists, the governor said intelligence report indicated that some political thugs invaded Amendokhian, Ward 7, in Esan North East Council, spearheaded by a serving member of the House of Representatives and another incident occurred at Ekpoma, Esan West Council where soldiers in the area intervened to stop suspected PDP thugs from causing mayhem to pave the way for rigging. He said that he had drawn the attention of the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Rose Obuoforibo to the two incidents.
He said: “I have received two reports now; one is from Hon Itulah’s polling booth, Ward 7, Amendokhian, Uromi, Esan North East. They used their thugs to drive away our people, they carried ballot box and they are thumb printing. I have called the INEC REC to inform her of this development and she has promised she is going to act very swiftly. In Ekpoma too, the PDP guys also tried to beat up someone, the army intervened and I’m told they have brought the situation there under control. So I imagine that in a couple of places, the PDP people who realised that we have educated our agents to watch out have resorted to driving away our agents and that way they can then have a field day.
“They have already in many cases paid corps members, presiding officers N10,000 so that they can turn the other eye while they want to thumb print, but whenever we have information, we are taking steps to inform the police, and INEC authorities and hoping that they will act on it. But otherwise in most cases, from what I’m hearing everything appears peaceful. But you know the real test of election is at the level of counting the vote and collation. I need to get full report on what is happening in Edo South . But in Edo Central, I think they are very determined to rig the election there, but our people are also very well on the alert to watch out.”
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